North Solent Wader and Wildfowl High Water & Terrestrial Habitat Use: Workshop Outcomes

March 2009

North Solent Wader and Wildfowl High Water & Terrestrial Habitat Use: Workshop Outcomes

Contents North Solent Wader and Wildfowl High Water & Terrestrial Habitat Use: Workshop Outcomes...... 2 Introduction ...... 2 Policy unit assessments...... 5 Habitat use by waders...... 5 Selection of roost sites and patterns of use...... 5 Roost behaviour in the western Solent ...... 6 Roosts behaviour within Water ...... 7 Roost behaviour in Harbour...... 7 Roost behaviour in ...... 8 Roost behaviour in ...... 8 Roost behaviour in Pagham Harbour ...... 8 Terrestrial feeding sites ...... 9 Habitat use by Dark bellied brent goose and other wildfowl ...... 10 Potential for roost and feeding site recreation...... 10 Summary and conclusions...... 11 Summary of wader roosts within the North Solent SMP...... 13

Introduction Planning for the future conservation of ’s migrant waterfowl populations in the face of rising sea levels requires careful consideration and assessment of different coast defence scenarios. The North Solent Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) provides a strategic document in which to start this process. As sea levels rise some sections of the coast will become increasingly threatened by tidal inundation or potentially greater levels of fluvial flooding. In addition, rising sea level will result in the loss of intertidal habitat in front of coast defences due to coastal squeeze. The SMP will consider options for future management of coast defence structures taking account of these changes. In places, defences may be abandoned (no active intervention), in others, there will be a need to maintain the existing line of defences.

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Some coast defences many also be deliberately retreated to an inland line. These options will need to be considered within different time scales so that some sections of coast defence may be retained on their existing line for the next 20 years but will be retreated or abandoned in the following 20 years. The SMP has divided the consideration of the future life of coast defences into four time periods or epochs; 0‐ 19 years, 20‐49 years, 50‐100 years and 100 years+. In proposing options for the future of coast defences, the effects of these for the birds that use these different sections of coast need to be assessed. It is generally understood that intertidal mud, sand and mixed sediment flats all play a vital role in providing feeding habitat for many birds, particularly so at low water. However, in addition to intertidal feeding habitat, the migrant bird populations of the Solent require a range of additional habitats to be able to survive through the winter. At high water, wading birds need sites on which to roost whilst the intertidal flats are under water. These are termed high water wader roosts. Some waders also feed on terrestrial habitats inland of the coast, especially wet grassland and marshes. Although wildfowl do not form roosts in the same way as waders, many of the wintering wildfowl in the Solent move between intertidal and terrestrial habitats often on a daily cycle and utilise freshwater wetlands, wet and flooded grasslands and also drier grasslands and even young arable crops. The location of these different habitats and their use by the wintering waterfowl populations of the Solent is not well understood, particularly as the pattern of use can vary from year to year due to changing farming practices and weather conditions. Some of the sites used are included within protected areas such as SSSI, SPA or Ramsar sites. However, many have not statutory protection yet play a significant role in the maintenance of the Solent’s wintering and passage waterfowl populations. A workshop was held on Friday 6th March 2009 to collate the views of local experts on the use of sites around the north Solent shore by wading birds and wildfowl both as roost sites at high water and as terrestrial feeding habitat. The workshop was split into two halves with the morning session considering sites in the western Solent and the afternoon the sites in the eastern Solent. The workshop was attended by the following:‐ Colin Allen (Hythe Marshes WeBS counter) Ian Watts (Itchen Estuary WeBS counter) Peter Potts (HCC Royal Victoria CP and wider Solent) Ivan Lang (Pagham Harbour) Peter Durnell (HCC Lymington and Keyhaven) Ed Rowsell (Chichester Harbour Conservancy) Katherine Rowborough (Langstone Harbour Board)

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Chris Cockburn (RSPB Langstone Harbour) Claire Lambert Samantha Cope Andrew Colenutt Tim Sykes Jonathan Cox

Comprehensive briefing notes were also received from Mark Larter, NE North Solent NNR. Attendants at the workshop were invited to give their views on the use of each section of the Solent’s coast by waders and wildfowl. This information was recorded on maps and as notes. This brief report reflects the discussion that took place at the workshop. It initially provides a review of the use by waterfowl of high water roost and terrestrial feeding sites. This is followed by a review of the use of high water roost and terrestrial feeding habitats within each sector of the north Solent shore from Hurst Spit in the west to Pagham Harbour in the east. Information gathered in the workshop has been collated onto maps. These combine information made available by the and Wildlife Trust with that provided from the workshop attendants. Two sets of maps have been produced. The first of these provides information on wader use and the second on use of terrestrial habitats by dark bellied brent geese and other wildfowl. The Wildlife Trust’s maps provided an assessment of wader roost1 and brent goose feeding sites2 based upon observer information including numbers of birds present and frequency of occupation. Sites were graded as follows:‐ Red Major importance Orange High importance Green Low to moderate importance Blue No recorded use The workshop attendants were asked to grade sites using this same grading system. However, no data was used to distinguish between importance levels. Grading of the sites was therefore based upon the contributors’ experience of sites over a number of years.

1 NS_High_Tide_Roost_Wader.pdf

2 NS_High_Tide_Roost_Brent.pdf

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Due to the range of experience of those present at the Workshops, some parts of the Solent shore were better understood than others. For example, the shoreline between Lymington and Beaulieu was not well known by any of the contributors. This is reflected in the large number of sites with ‘no recorded use’ on this section of shore.

Policy unit assessments Using the information provided from the Workshops an assessment was made of potential coast defence policy options for each section of coast3. This considered a limited number of standardised options for each coast section; Hold the Line, Retreat the Line or No Active Intervention. Many of the important waterfowl roost and feeding sites identified from the Workshop are not protected by coast defences and hence were not affected by coast defence options. Offsetting measures for the loss of these sites to sea level rise may be required in the context of site management plans. It should be possible to provide compensation or mitigation for the loss of the smaller and less complex waterfowl roost and feeding sites that are protected by coast defences. Suggested compensation strategies have been identified in the assessment matrix for these. In most instances, compensation/mitigation would be required across all three time epochs of the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP). Maintaining the line of coast defences in front of these sites is a potential management strategy, however, this approach would be counter to objective of maintaining naturally self sustaining coastlines and it is likely to have other adverse effects on habitats of international importance through coastal squeeze. For three large and complex sites, it was considered that compensation could not be provided and that coast defences should be maintained for the first epoch of the SMP period to maintain the function of the SPA concerned. A final assessment for the need to maintain defences in front of individual waterfowl roosting and feeding sites can only be provided following a comprehensive appropriate assessment in which all features of the Natura 2000 sites are assessed against the proposed policy options.

Habitat use by waders

Selection of roost sites and patterns of use As the rising tide covers the intertidal flats wading birds are confined to a smaller area of habitat and will eventually move from their feeding sites to a roost. This may be above high water mark, but often birds will first move to a sub‐roost on an area of

3 North Solent SMP policy units + wader assessment V2.xls

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higher level intertidal composed of shingle, mud banks or saltmarsh. These sub‐ roosts may be frequently used on neap tides when they can be available throughout most or all of the high tide period. If a sub‐roost is covered by the rising tide, birds will move on to their preferred high tide roost. A wide range of habitats are used as high tide roosts. Different species tend to prefer different characteristics so that larger wading birds such as curlew and black tailed godwit will often move to wet coastal fields in flood plains or grazing marshes. Where available, waders such as grey plover, redshank, oystercatcher, dunlin and lapwing will use high level saltmarshes. In and the western Solent, banks of shell and shingle deposited on the outer edge of saltmarshes provide important wader roosts as they remain above water on most states of tide. Undisturbed shingle spits and beaches can also provide important high water roosts, particularly for species such as turnstone and ringed plover. In other parts of the Solent artificial structures provide valuable high water roost sites, for example former coast defences structures and old sea walls, moored boats and pontoons. In two small concrete pontoons can have up to 5000 tightly packed dunlin roosting on them. In the Hamble, dunlin and turnstone make a lot of use of pontoons for roosting. A key feature of good roost sites is that they remain undisturbed during the high tide period. If disturbed, birds have to move to alternative roost sites. This can be energetically expensive and may result in birds moving considerable distances or just circling over the water during the high tide period. Few wader roosts are perfect in all states of the tide and throughout all the year. In storm conditions, birds will seek more sheltered roosts often provided by inland fields and grazing marshes such as at Farlington. On neap tides sub‐roosts near to feeding sites can be exploited so reducing commuting time and energy, but on high spring tides higher roosts may be needed. These may be some distance from feeding habitat or subject to more frequent disturbance. For example, on week days, up to 20,000 dunlin may roost at Black Point on , but on weekends, when the sailing club is active and there a more people about, there may be none. Birds disturbed from this site may have to move to Pilsey Island or to Gutner and Verner Common. The oysterbeds on the north west corner of Hayling Island may once have provided a roost for this large flock of waders but increasing levels of disturbance is thought to have had a significant effect on the use of this site. One of the most significant conclusions arising from the Workshop discussion was that birds need a network of roost sites to over winter in the Solent. The size of individual roosts may not therefore be as important as the maintenance of this network. The network as a whole is very much more valuable than the sum of its individual parts.

Roost behaviour in the western Solent The comparatively narrow inter‐tidal zone in the western Solent limits the area of low water intertidal feeding habitat. It may be that terrestrial wet grassland habitats

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are comparatively more important in this part of the Solent as a consequence. Wading birds can generally find sufficient sub‐roost and high water roost sites in the vicinity of intertidal feeding sites. In the Lymington to Keyhaven coast, important wader roosts include the chenier banks and saltmarshes between Lymington and Hurst Spit, the undisturbed grazing marshes at Pennington Marsh and the islands and marshes within Normandy Marsh. An important sub‐roost is provided by the shingle island that has developed off shore from Oxey Marsh as a result of saltmarsh erosion. The section of coast between Lymington and Thorns Beach has apparently few high water roost sites and further research is needed to determine if the fields along this section are used at high water by roosting waders. It is recommended that further information on this section of the coast be obtained. It is known that chenier banks on the outer edges of the saltmarshes in front of Tanners Lane provide good wader roosts. In the there is a largely self contained wader population with birds roosting both on the grazing marshes and shingle spits at the entrance to the estuary and the saltmarshes up the estuary including those upstream of Bucklers Hard. Sub‐ roosts develop on the outer edge of the marshes at Exbury and by Gins Farm with birds moving inland to the grazing marshes and adjacent fields on both sides of the estuary on spring tides, during storm conditions and when disturbed. East of the Beaulieu estuary, the Darkwater is used by small numbers of waders as a roost site and small numbers also roost on the shingle banks at Stansore Point.

Roosts behaviour within Southampton Water Most waders in Southampton Water tend to stay within the estuary, however, there is evidence of grey plover making the significant flight from feeding sites at to roost at Inchmery at the entrance of the Beaulieu estuary and even as far as the marshes at Pitts Deep east of the . Within Southampton Water there is considerable inter‐change of birds between feeding sites on Weston Shore, sub‐roosts at Hamble Point and in front of the Hamble Oil terminal and high water roosts on the shingle banks and saltmarshes between Hythe and Fawley. There is also a movement of redshank from Weston shore to roost sites in the Itchen Estuary where pontoons, moored barges, jetties and other artificial structures are used. In the Hamble Estuary, waders move to saltmarsh roosts at Hacketts Marsh and adjacent to Bunny Meadows on the east side of the estuary. The grazing marshes and shingle features at the entrance to the estuary such as those at Hook Links also important.

Roost behaviour in Portsmouth Harbour In Portsmouth Harbour, the lack of good high water roost sites may be limiting the numbers of intertidal feeding birds. Significant roost sites are provided by the saltmarshes and grasslands within RNAD , the firing range at Tipner Island, Peewit Island (Hampshire Wildlife Trust reserve) the sea wall at the entrance to the harbour at HMS Dolphin and pontoons and other artificial structures in

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Creek. Several of these roosts are regularly disturbed and there is thought to be a significant movement of birds from Portsmouth to Langstone Harbour when roosts in Portsmouth are disturbed or unavailable.

Roost behaviour in Langstone Harbour Wader roosts in Langstone Harbour have changed in recent years. The old sea walls around the Oyster Beds on Hayling Island were once a very important site, but these have declined in value, probably due to excessive disturbance. still provides a valuable roost site, particularly during storm conditions. Islands in the Harbour, particularly the more mature saltmarsh islands such as Baker’s Island, are also valuable roost sites. The Kench at the entrance of the Harbour is a very significant sub‐roost and high tide roost with birds congregating on the intertidal moving to the adjoining shingle beaches, although these are very vulnerable to disturbance. Elsewhere harbour edge fields on the western side of Hayling Island and some amenity grass areas on the eastern side of are also used.

Roost behaviour in Chichester Harbour Chichester Harbour is the largest and most complex estuary in the Solent system. Waders can remain within the Harbour but there is also thought to be regular interchange of birds with Langstone Harbour and with Pagham Harbour. Large and important roosts occur at Black Point, the /Verner Common area, Pilsey Sands and Island, Thorney Island and small shingle spits along the eastern shore of the Harbour such as at Ella Nore Point. Other significant grassland and terrestrial roosts occur at Tournerbury Marsh and at West Wittering. Saltmarsh roosts occur at Northney and along the fringes of the Bosham channel.

Roost behaviour in Pagham Harbour The relatively high level saltmarshes in Pagham Harbour provide good wader roost sites, especially artificially raised areas in the marshes which have 60‐70 curelew, 100 Black‐tailed godwit, lapwing and all the avocet in harbour (up to 15). Old concrete war‐time structures also provide roost sites. Saltmarshes at Bremere in the north of the Harbour are used by roosting waders in particular increasing numbers of knot (up to 900). These may move inland to fields at Bremere Rife where lapwing numbers in February to March reach 3‐5000 and golden plover 2000. The shingle spit on the south side of harbour entrance is growing. As well as providing tern nest sites, this spit provides a wader roost for knot, 4‐500 dunlin, grey plover, ringed plover and 300‐400 turnstone. This site is especially important on big tides when birds cannot use the saltmarsh roosts. Other important big tide roosts are provided by the fields at Bremere where lapwing, golden plover, black tailed godwit and curlew move. At Broad Rife flows from the sewage works create good summer pools by Ferry Field used by about 70 black tailed godwit. Fields inland of the sea wall at Sidlesham are also very good for wigeon and wintering curlew. These were

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maintained wet by a breach in the old sea wall, but loss of the public right of way has resulted in the repair of the breach so limiting the potential for saltmarsh creation. Terrestrial feeding sites Coastal grasslands occur as coastal grazing marshes, as flood plain grasslands along river valleys and as terrestrial fields by the coast. These three different types of grassland habitat provide different habitats for wintering waterfowl. Coastal grazing marshes have developed on former saltmarshes that have been reclaimed for agricultural use. They are frequently flooded in winter by a mix of fresh and saline water. Their value for wintering waterfowl is very dependent upon the vegetation they support. This can be excellent for waders and wildfowl if the grassland is grazed to maintain a low even sward and scrub development is limited. However, many grazing marshes have a rather tall rushy pasture and frequent scattered scrub. Whereas these diversify the habitat they also reduce their attractiveness for waders and wildfowl that prefer a more open habitat structure. Grazing marshes are frequently crossed and fringed by open water areas, either as ditches or dykes or more frequently as saline lagoons or ponds inland of sea walls. These can provide very important wader and wildfowl roosts and feeding sites, especially during high tide and storm conditions. Important coastal grazing marshes occur throughout the north Solent shore from Lymington and Keyhaven in the west, the Beaulieu Estuary, Farlington Marshes, Northney Marsh, Tournerbury Marsh, Thorney Island and around Pagham Harbour. All grazing marshes are dependent upon coast defences to protect them from tidal inundation and all are threatened by sea level rise. A number of streams and rivers flow into the Solent. The flood plain of these forms wet grassland habitats ranging from fresh to saline in influence depending upon proximity to the sea and the effect of coast defence structures at the outfall of the stream or river. In places, the flood plain of these rivers and streams has developed into reed beds or tall fen habitats that do not attract significant numbers of wintering waterfowl and few waders. However, where the flood plain has been maintained as grassland they can attract significant numbers of both roosting and feeding waders and wildfowl. Important river valley wet grasslands occur along the Avon Water at Keyhaven, the Darkwater Valley, Lower Test, and the upper reaches of Chichester and Pagham Harbours. Coastal grassland fields can be wet after heavy rain when they may attract appreciable numbers of feeding wading and roosting birds, particularly curlew, black tailed godwit, lapwing, golden plover and oystercatcher. Other coastal fields tend to be much better draining but can also be valuable to waders as roost sites. Important groups of coastal grassland fields occur inland of the Lymington to Keyhaven marshes, at the entrance to the Beaulieu estuary along the shore between the Hamble and Gosport, in several places within the urban matrix of Fareham and

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Portsmouth, the west side of Hayling Island and in many places around Chichester and Pagham Harbours. Many of these fields are also used by feeding dark bellied brent geese.

Habitat use by Dark bellied brent goose and other wildfowl Dark bellied brent geese have adapted to feed extensively on grasslands and winter cereal crops. These tend to be close to the intertidal but can be several kilometres inland from the coast. Selection of fields in which to feed is based upon a number of characteristics including openness of the landscape, frequency of disturbance and most importantly, nutritional value of the grassland or cereal crop. Flocks of brent geese will tend to select fields with grasses of highest nutritional value. They tend to avoid flooded or very wet fields. Decisions on coast defence options will not generally have a very significant impact on brent goose feeding fields as these tend to be at a relatively high level above normal tidal inundation. Due to the type of grassland preferred by brent geese these sort of fields are often of little intrinsic nature conservation value, although there are a few exceptions to this. By contrast, fields used by other species of wintering wildfowl tend to consist of wet grassland in close association with areas of open water. These can occur within coastal grazing marshes and river flood plains but tend not to be found in other terrestrial fields. These wet grassland fields can be heavily used by wigeon and teal together with pintail, shelduck and shoveler. Important sites include Pennington Marshes, Normandy Marsh, Beaulieu grazing marshes, Lower Test marshes, Dibden Reclaim, Titchfield Haven, Fields inland of , Farlington Marsh, Thorney Island and wet fields at West Wittering and around Pagham Harbour. Many of these wet grasslands are used by wildfowl feeding at night when they presumably feel safe from predation and are free from disturbance. The classic example of this is the Dibden Reclaim although others occur for example fields inland of Hook Links. During the day, birds fly out from these wet grasslands to roost on nearby saltmarshes. Wildfowl feeding at night at Dibden Reclaim leave at dawn to move north to Eling and Bury marshes and south to the Hythe to Calshot saltmarshes. A similar pattern of movement has been recorded around the Hamble entrance where wildfowl feeding at night on fields inland of Hook and Warsash move to Hook Links and the Hamble estuary during the day. Coast defence options can have a very significant effect on the use of these wet grazing marshes by large numbers of wintering waterfowl as well as waders.

Potential for roost and feeding site recreation The most important wader roost and waterfowl feeding sites in the Solent are those that are large and have a diversity of habitat including extensive areas of open wet and drier grassland, permanent and temporary open water, reed bed and swamp and transitions from fresh to saline conditions. These large and complex sites are

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difficult or impossible to compensate for within the Solent region due to the wide range of factors needed to make them function. Many of these large and complex terrestrial (non‐intertidal) waterfowl roosting and feeding sites are protected behind sea walls as coastal grazing marshes. There is a need to protect the most important of these from coastal inundation in the short term. In the medium to long term, it will become increasingly unsustainable to protect these sites. Sites with the greatest potential for providing replacement for these large sites are within the flood plains of the many tributaries to the Solent. Tidal inundation of these river valleys is often controlled through the installation of sluice structures but removal or modification of these can provide opportunities to create replacement habitat. Smaller wader roost sites can be compensated for more easily is part of the process of coastal re‐alignment. Old sea walls for example can be managed to provide good high water roosting habitat as well as breeding sites for Annex 1 and other coastal birds. In some cases, habitat management can be used to create alternative roost sites. This might take the form of vegetation management through the removal of scrub and woodland to create open habitat conditions, mowing or grazing or tall grassland or the control of visitor access to remove disturbance. These management measures will improve the quality of the habitat as well as its function as a wader roost or nesting site. Artificial roost and breeding sites can be created by mooring pontoons and floating platforms within estuaries. These will be used by birds but it is questionable whether such artificial sites are of the same ecological value as sites that are natural components of an estuary ecosystem. Habitat modification has also been suggested as an alternative method of providing replacement wader roosts; for example, placing shingle on saltmarsh islands to raise their profile. As with the use of pontoons and floating rafts the deposition of shingle will result in the damage or loss of internationally important habitats within designated sites and may be considered a last resort if other more sustainable and less damaging alternatives are not available.

Summary and conclusions As the tide rises, wading birds are forced to move from their intertidal feeding habitat to roost through the high water period. A wide range of habitats are used as high water wader roosts ranging from natural saltmarshes and shingle deposits to coastal grazing marshes and wet grasslands and artificial features such as old sea walls and pontoons. Different species of waders prefer different types of roost site and will move between roosts depending on a range of environmental factors including weather conditions, tide state and disturbance. Few wader roosts provide

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perfect conditions for roosting at all times. To ensure waders can maintain their population and distribution within the Solent, a network of roost sites is required to meet these varying conditions. The maintenance of this network is therefore more important than the conservation of individual roost sites; the whole is of greater value than the sum of its individual parts. Some wader roosts are also used by waterfowl (waders and wildfowl) for feeding. These tend to be wet grasslands either within coastal grazing marshes, flood plains or other poorly draining fields. These terrestrial feeding sites (as opposed to intertidal sites) can be used by birds at all states of the tide. Their use is related to soils wetness and extent of surface water flooding as well as weather conditions and tidal state. The most important and most difficult to compensate wader roosts also provide feeding habitat for waterfowl. Where there are transitions from fresh to saline conditions and mosaics open grassland open water, marsh and swamp the greater habitat diversity is reflected in a greater diversity of species that are able to use the site and greater numbers of birds. Some waterfowl, for example wigeon, require a combination of open water and short open grassland to feed upon whilst others such as teal and pintail are dabbling ducks and tend to feed on flooded areas of grazing marshes and other wet grasslands. Dark‐bellied brent geese are unusual in the context of the Solent’s waterfowl populations in that they will commonly feed on terrestrial grasslands and arable crops that are not attractive to other species. These brent goose feeding sites are selected for the nutritional value of the grass so that agriculturally improved grasslands, leys and arable crops are often preferred. Wetness and the provision of open water is not important. However, access to fresh water is required for drinking and preening and flocks of brent geese will fly to freshwater for these purposes, for example, the small freshwater stream that outfalls across the intertidal on the Brownwich shore. When considering the functioning of wader roosts and terrestrial feeding sites in the Solent it is important to understand the inter‐relationship between the bird populations in its constituent SPAs. The classification of these sites was undertaken to meet administrative necessities and do not reflect individual ecological units. This is particularly apparent in relationship to Portsmouth Harbour SPA. This site provides an important habitat in the conservation of the wider Solent migrant waterfowl populations although it only qualifies for selection as a SPA for a few species. Assessment of the effects of any development on the Solent’s SPA therefore need to consider affects both ‘on site’ and ‘off‐site’ to take account of this wider functionality.

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Summary of wader roosts within the North Solent SMP

Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

From To Hurst Spit Hurst Beach Hurst Spit Castle Point Important wader roosts associated with saltmarshes in particular chernier banks on outer Hurst Spit Castle Point Hurst Spit North Point saltmarsh edge Hurst Spit North Point Saltgrass lane Saltgrass Lane Lymington Saltgrass lane Lymington Yacht Haven Grazing marshes and saline lagoons provide Yacht Haven important wader/wildfowl roosts and feeding sites

Important wader roosts associated with saltmarshes in particular chernier banks on outer saltmarsh edge Lymington Yacht Elmers Court Lymington River Lymington River Important wader roosts associated with Haven saltmarshes in particular chernier banks on outer saltmarsh edge

4 This column provides a brief summary of the habitats and use of these by waterfowl from the SPAs. It makes no reference to the relationship between the use of sites as roosts or for terrestrial feeding by waterfowl and the threat to these from sea level rise and marine inundation as a consequence of any coast defence policy option. It includes ‘natural’ sites on saltmarshes and shingle structures as well as artificial sites on sea walls and pontoons as well as sites such as grazing marshes that are dependent upon the maintenance of sea defences. Sites that are likely to need protection through maintenance of coast defences are identified as ‘red’ sites in SMP policy units + wader assessment V2.xls. The loss of these sites through coastal inundation would be likely to have adverse effects on the integrity of the SPA and would be difficult or impossible to compensate for. ‘orange’ sites are also important and their loss through coastal inundation would need to be compensated for but this is likely to be possible. ‘yellow’ sites are also important to the functioning of the SPA, but they are located on natural features such as chenier banks and saltmarshes whose conservation is not related to the management of coast defences.

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Elmers Court Lepe Elmers Court Pitts Deep High importance roost on saltmarshes subject to erosion Pitts Deep Warren Beach Cottage High importance roost on saltmarshes subject to erosion Warren Beach Cottage Gull Island Grazing marshes provide important wader and wildfowl roost and feeding sites.

Major roosts on intertidal saltmarsh and associated shingle spits subject to erosion and coastal processes Gull Island Beaulieu River Grazing marshes provide important wader and wildfowl roost and feeding sites.

Major roosts on intertidal saltmarsh and associated shingle spits subject to erosion and coastal processes Inchmery Lepe Major roosts on intertidal saltmarsh subject to erosion and coastal processes.

Fields inland of coast provide important high tide roosts and wildfowl feeding habitat

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Lepe Bourne Gap Lepe Stone Point Major roost at Inchmery on shingle bank.

High importance roosts in Darkwater Valley Stone Point Bourne Gap No significant roosts known

Bourne Gap Hillhead, Bourne Gap Hillhead No significant roosts known Calshot

Hillhead Calshot Spit Part of Major roost on shingle spit

Calshot Spit Calshot Spit Calshot Spit (jetty) Part of Major roost on shingle spit

Calshot Spit Fawley Power Calshot Spit (jetty) Lee Of Calshot Spit Major roost associated with chenier banks on station outer edge of eroding saltmarshes Lee of Calshot Spit Fawley Power station Major roost associated with chenier banks on outer edge of eroding saltmarshes Fawley Power Fawley Oil Fawley Power station Fawley Power station Major roost associated with chenier banks on station Refinery outer edge of eroding saltmarshes Fawley Power station Fawley Oil Refinery Major roost associated with chenier banks on outer edge of eroding saltmarshes Fawley Oil Refinery Fawley Oil Refinery Major roost associated with chenier banks on outer edge of eroding saltmarshes Fawley Oil Hythe Sailing Fawley Oil Refinery Hythe Sailing Club Major roost associated with chenier banks on Refinery Club outer edge of eroding saltmarshes

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Hythe Sailing Hythe Marina Hythe Sailing Club Hythe Marina No Roosts need protection or compensation Club Hythe Marina Marchwood Hythe Marina Marchwood Military Wader roost and major wildfowl feeding site on Military Port Port Dibden Reclaim (Dibden Bay) Marchwood Marchwood Marchwood Military Cracknore Hard No major roosts although small numbers of birds Military Port Power Station Port on structures and moored boats Cracknore Hard Royal Navy Armaments No major roosts although small numbers of birds Depot on structures and moored boats Marchwood Eling Creek Royal Navy Armaments Eling Creek Major roost on eroding saltmarshes at Bury Power Station Depot Marshes Eling Creek Redbridge Eling Creek Redbridge Major roost on saltmarshes at Eling Marsh

Lower Redbridge Southampton Port Lower Test marshes provides important roosts and feeding site for waterfowl subject to natural coastal processes Redbridge Ocean Village Southampton Port Ocean Village No Roosts need protection or compensation

Ocean Village Woodmill Ocean Village Woodmill Lane Bridge No Roosts need protection or compensation Lane Woodmill Lane Bridge Cobden Bridge Important roosts on structures in River Itchen not protected by coast defences

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Woodmill Lane Weston Point Cobden Bridge Weston Point Important roosts on structures in River Itchen not protected by coast defences

Weston Point Netley Castle Weston Point Netley Castle High‐Medium roosts on shingle beaches and inland fields

Netley Castle Netley Hard Netley Castle Netley Hard High‐Medium roosts on shingle beaches and inland fields

Netley Hard Cliff House Netley Hard Cliff House High‐Medium roosts on shingle beaches and inland fields.

Cliff House Ensign Cliff House Ensign Industrial Park High‐Medium roosts on shingle beaches and Industrial Park inland fields.

Ensign Industrial Hamble Ensign Industrial Park Hamble Oil Terminal High‐Medium roosts on shingle beaches and Park/Hamble Oil Common Point inland fields. Terminal Hamble Oil Terminal Hamble Common Point Major‐High important roosts on intertidal shingle and saltmarsh Hamble Satchell Hamble Common Point Satchell Marshes Major‐High important roosts on intertidal Common Point Marshes saltmarsh Satchell Marshes Crableck Satchell Marshes Badnam Creek Major‐High important roosts on intertidal Marina saltmarsh Badnam Creek Lands End Lane Major‐High important roosts on intertidal saltmarsh

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Lands End Lane Swanwick Shore Road Major‐High important roosts on intertidal saltmarsh Swanwick Shore Road Crableck Marina Major‐High important roosts on intertidal saltmarsh Crableck Marina Crableck Marina Crableck Marina Major‐High important roosts on intertidal saltmarsh Crableck Marina Warsash Crableck Marina Warsash North Major‐High importance roosts on old sea wall and North saltmarshes Warsash North Hook Park Warsash North Hook Park High importance roost inside Hook Spit on Hook Links

Hook Park Meon Road, Hook Park Solent Breezes High importance roost inside Hook Spit on Hook Titchfield Links Haven Solent Breezes Hill Head Harbour No roosts

Meon Road, Lee‐on‐the ‐Hill Head Harbour Lee‐on‐the Solent High importance roosts and waterfowl feeding Titchfield Haven Solent site in Titchfield Haven

Lee‐on‐the ‐No 2 Battery Ranges Fort Gilkicker No important roosts Solent No 2 Battery Alver Lane Fort Gilkicker Portsmouth Harbour No important roosts Entrance Alver Lane Gilkicker Point No important roosts

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Gilkicker Point Portsmouth Major roost on sea wall at Harbour entrance Harbour entrance Portsmouth Quay Lane Entrance to Portsmouth Quay Lane (MOD Roosts at Cockle Point. Others on shingle islands Harbour entrance (MOD Harbour (west) boundary) and saltmarsh in the Harbour (west) boundary)

Quay Lane Fleetlands Quay Lane (MOD Fleetlands (MOD Major roosts on structures and within RNAD (MOD boundary) (MOD boundary) Boundary) Gosport Boundary)

Fleetlands (MOD A27 Fleetlands (MOD A27 No important roosts boundary) boundary) A27 Cador Drive A27 Cador Drive High importance roosts on terrestrial grasslands at Cams Hall Cador Drive Horsea Island Cador Drive Horsea Island (MOD High importance roosts on foreshore and edge (MOD boundary) fields boundary) Horsea Island M275 Horsea Island M275 High importance roost on waste site

M275 Farlington M275 Farlington Marshes No important roosts Marshes (west) (west) Farlington Farlington Farlington Marshes Farlington Marshes (east) Major importance roost and waterfowl feeding Marshes (west) Marshes (east) (west) site on Farlington Marshes and associated islands

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Farlington Southmoor Farlington Marshes Wade Lane Medium roosts along shore Marshes (east) Lane (east)

Southmoor Lane Wade Lane Medium roosts

Wade Lane Maisemore Wade Lane Maisemore Gardens High importance roosts Gardens

Maisemore Emsworth Maisemore Gardens Emsworth Yacht Haven No important roosts Gardens Yacht Haven Emsworth Yacht Chidham Emsworth Yacht Haven Wickor Point (MOD Major importance roosts and waterfowl feeding Haven Point boundary) site on Thorney Island

Chidham Point west of Wickor Point (MOD Prinsted Point (MOD No important roosts Cobnor Point boundary) boundary) west of Cobnor Bosham Prinsted Point (MOD Prinsted Major roosts on sea wall Point boundary)

Prinsted Bosham Major roosts on sea wall

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Bosham Lowerhone Bosham Lowerhone Farm No important roosts Farm Lowerhone Farm Fishbourne Lowerhone Farm Fishbourne Mill Pond Major roosts at head of Fishbourne channel Mill Pond

Fishbourne Mill Apuldram Fishbourne Mill Pond Dell Quay Roosts on wet grassland Pond Manor Farm Apuldram Manor Ella Nore Lane Dell Quay Birdham Pool Marina High importance roosts Farm

Birdham Pool Marina West Itchenor Natural shingle and saltmarsh roosts

West Itchenor Ella Nore Lane Natural shingle and saltmarsh roosts

Ella Nore Cakeham Ella Nore Lane Cakeham Estate Major roosts at Ella Nore point

Cakeham East Wittering Cakeham Estate East Wittering Medium roosts

East Wittering Bracklesham East Wittering Bracklesham No important roosts

Bracklesham Selsey West Bracklesham Selsey West Beach Major roost on grazing marshes inland of coast (Medmerry) Beach

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Selsey West Selsey East Selsey West Beach Selsey East Beach No important roosts Beach Beach (Selsey Bill) Selsey East Beach Pagham entrance No important roosts

Pagham Harbour Major roosts on spits, saltmarshes and structures in Harbour

Langstone Portsmouth Entrance to Langstone M275 High importance roost Harbour entrance Harbour Harbour (west) (west) entrance (east) (harbour) Tipner High importance

M275 Stamshaw Whale Island (MOD) No important roosts

Whale Island (MOD) Whale Island (MOD) No important roosts

Whale Island (MOD) HM Naval Base No important roosts

HM Naval Base HMS Warrior No important roosts

HMS Warrior Entrance to Portsmouth No important roosts Harbour (east) Langstone Portsmouth Entrance to Langstone Southsea Castle No important roosts Harbour entrance Harbour Harbour (west)

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

(west) entrance (east) Southsea Castle Portsmouth Harbour No important roosts open coast Entrance Langstone Bridge Mengham Langstone Bridge Northney Marina Major roosts on saltmarshes subject to erosion.

Northney Marina Gutner Farm High importance roosts and wildfowl feeding site at Northney Farm on grazing marshes and arable fields

Gutner Farm Mill Rythe Holiday Major roosts on Gutner Point and Verner Village Common

Mill Rythe Holiday Mengham Major roost at on grazing marshes at Tournerbury Village

Mengham Chichester Mengham Black Point Major roost at Selsemore Harbour entrance (west) Chichester A3023 Black Point Inn On Beach, Hayling Major roost between groynes on Solent side of Harbour entrance Island Sandy Point. Major roost at Black Point on (west) shingle and saltmarsh.

A3023 Langstone Inn On The Beach Langstone Harbour No important roosts Harbour entrance entrance (east)

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Policy Units SMP Management Unit Wader roosts and wildfowl feeding sites identified from workshops4

Langstone North Shore Entrance to Langstone North Shore Lane Major and high importance roosts at Kench and Harbour entrance Road (West Harbour (east) Sinah Holiday Camp (east) Town)

North Shore West Lane North Shore Lane West Lane (Stoke) No important roosts Road (West (Stoke) Town) West Lane Langstone West Lane (Stoke) Langstone Bridge Major roosts on old oyster beds (Stoke) Bridge

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